Page 166 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

164  CENTR AL INDIA

A PORTRAIT OF

CENTRAL INDIA

Three of India’s largest states – Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh – lie
in Central India. This vast and densely populated region is the country’s Hindi-
speaking belt (often called the “cow belt”), an area remarkable as much for its
rich historical past and religious and cultural diversity as for its mineral wealth.
The River Ganges, which flows Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, his
through Uttar Pradesh (UP) and daughter Indira Gandhi and
Bihar, has shaped much of the grandson Rajiv Gandhi and,
history and culture of both states. Atal Behari Vajpayee. The tides
On its fertile banks, civilizations, of contemporary politics often
cities and empires have grown hinge on the strength of caste
and flourished, from 1500 BC and religious sentiments. One
onwards (see p45). Today, the river Detail from the great tragic result of this was the
continues to play a crucial role in stupa at Sanchi demolition of a 16th-century
the economy, culture, religion and mosque in the town of Ayodhya
the imagination of the millions of people in 1992, by Hindu religious extremists,
who live in the surrounding Gangetic Plains. because they claimed it stood at the spot
UP is both the spiritual heartland of where Lord Rama (see p31) was born. The
Hinduism and the cultural heartland incident led to widespread Hindu-Muslim
of Indian Islam – the former symbolized riots, and the issue continues to simmer.
by Varanasi, the holiest of Indian cities In November 2000, several new states
(see pp206–212), and the latter by the were created. In UP, the northernmost
Taj Mahal, the country’s greatest monument section, covering the Kumaon and Garhwal
(see pp176–9). With a population of 200 hills, became the new state of Uttarakhand.
million, UP elects more members to the This is an area of great natural beauty, with
Indian parliament than any other state, picturesque hill stations, trekking trails, and
and therefore plays a dominant role in ancient Hindu pilgrimage centres, in the
national politics. Eight Indian prime shadow of towering Himalayan peaks.
ministers have been from here, including Bihar, like UP, is a densely populated

The Chhota Imambara complex at Lucknow, capital of Uttar Pradesh

164-165_EW_India.indd 164 26/04/17 11:43 am
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Portrait template “UK” LAYER
(SourceReport v1.2)
Date 5th December 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm